Ryan Hampton debuts at No. 1 in initial 2027 On3 top 50

On3 debuted its initial 2027 top 50 ranking with Rockwall (TX) Rockwall-Heath High shooting guard Ryan Hampton sitting as the cycle’s No. 1 overall player. This ranking release is the first iteration of the 2027 recruiting cycle. The intention is to have between nine and ten updates from the first release of a class, prior to their sophomore season, to the final release in a cycle, after senior season all-star games.

Hampton, a 6-foot-5 guard, played on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit this summer, starting with the Game Elite program and finishing with the Southern Assault. He is currently the highest-rated player in the 2027 class, carrying a 97 rating, we have not issued any five-star grades at this point for this recruiting cycle.

This class is an interesting one at this point in the process. Through the past two classes (2025 and 2026), there was an early tier of players that had distanced themselves from the group by this point in the process. This 2027 class has not had that tier distinguish itself yet. While the depth of this class, at this point, might be greater than previously, the top-end talent is still growing into themselves as they sort through long-term potential outcomes.

Hampton dominated his age group

One look at Ryan Hampton’s game and you see the tools. He has a lengthy and twitchy frame. And he brings an alpha mentality to the court. Already producing amongst his peers, Hampton also carries a high ceiling for growth. Each game he played, even at the 15u level, during the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, drew a crowd of people watching.

And with each game he played, Hampton performed. Through his nearly 20 games played this summer on the circuit, Hampton averaged 17.5 points. Hampton displayed an ability to self-create and consistently get himself into advantageous situations in the half-court. He has a quick first step and plays a fearless style of basketball on the ball.

On3 has never shied away from transparency in our rankings process. At the end of the day, we are ranking toward NBA Draft night. At this point in the process, as these players are about to start their sophomore years of high school, Hampton’s attainable ceiling on the court is hard to ignore. In an Adidas 3SSB 15u Circuit that featured numerous players in these 2027 rankings, Hampton was the alpha on every court he stepped on.

The Hampton bloodlines

Ryan Hampton’s brother RJ Hampton was a highly touted five-star prospect originally in the 2020 class. RJ ended up graduating a year early and signing to play in the Australian NBL with the New Zealand Breakers. After that season, Hampton entered the NBA Draft where he was drafted 24th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was later traded to the Denver Nuggets and has played games for Denver, Orlando, Detroit, and Miami to this point in his career.

Hampton’s dad, Roderick Hampton, also played basketball at a Division 1 level. He was a 6-foot-4 guard for SMU from 1987-1991. For his career, the elder Hampton averaged 5.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Early recruitment

Ryan Hampton is only entering his sophomore year of high school. Per NCAA rules, college coaches are not able to directly contact a player until July 15 heading into a player’s junior season. However, Hampton does still carry multiple high major offers.

Hampton’s first claimed offer came in March of this year with Auburn. Arizona State, Cincinnati, SMU (where his dad played), Tennessee, and Texas have each followed suit.

Ryan Hampton’s long-term outlook

It can be difficult to gauge the progress a player will continue to make this early in the process. There is so much natural (and developmental) growth to happen after a player turns 14 or 15 years old. However, there are a few indicators to check off as each player progresses. The frame, twitchy athleticism, and ability to self-create are all very interesting in a player.

Looking at positional size and length can ultimately provide versatility, and a player’s ability to create an advantage with the ball in their hands are all traits looked upon very fondly at the highest levels of the game. Hampton has the bloodlines and the projectability, and he has the current level of production to warrant this top spot in the initial 2027 rankings.

Watching his confidence on the ball, with his quick change of direction dribble, and purposeful attacking of the paint has consistently been impressive. With this, he is going to have to continue working through the balance points and footwork of his jump shot, especially when shooting off of movement. A consistent threat to shoot from deep will unlock even more pieces to his game.

This is the first update of the 2027 recruiting cycle. We will continue to update the class rankings every three to four months throughout the process.